"Darling, what are you staring into space for?" Empress Carlota roused Maximilian I from his thoughts.
"Oh, it was nothing. I just thought of a few issues earlier and got a little lost in thought," Maximilian I said as if waking from a dream.
Empress Carlota said with some concern, "You haven't still been unable to let go of Mexico, have you?" After all, when Maximilian I mentioned Mexico earlier, he had looked as though he were grinding his teeth.
Back then, it had been Empress Carlota who encouraged Maximilian I to go to Mexico, but their days in Mexico had shattered her dream of being an empress.
During that time, she had nightmares every day, terrified that she and Maximilian I would be tortured to death by Mexican thugs.
Maximilian I took Empress Carlota's hand and comforted her. "Don't worry. We will never return to Mexico. What I was actually thinking about was the East African colony. I was considering offering Prince Constantin some suggestions later. After all, our daughter will be the mistress of East Africa in the future."
Inside a beer hall.
"A person important enough for His Majesty Emperor Maximilian I to welcome personally must have quite a background. Do you think Prince Constantin or one of the princes has come to East Africa?" Miller asked Schultz.
"Ah! Who knows? The owner himself said earlier that the city government had declared martial law today because some great figure was docking in Dar es Salaam, but he did not say exactly who it was.
Still, only royalty could probably command enough prestige to make His Majesty Emperor Maximilian I personally come to welcome them," Schultz replied.
Ping'an Hao.
"Master, we may disembark now. The East African government has finished preparing the reception," Keno reported as